‘Nuclear bomber base’ raises fears of a new Cuban crisis

The Russian military, furious at American plans to install a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe, is talking up the prospect of turning Cuba into a base for its long-range nuclear bombers.

Defense chiefs in Moscow are said to be pressing for the Kremlin to retaliate against the missile shield by placing strategic bombers off the American coast. The move threatens a rerun of the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, when the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union.

The Kremlin strongly opposes the deployment of ten interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic, despite American assurances that the shield is aimed at rogue states such as Iran and poses no threat to Russia. President Medvedev threatened “retaliatory steps” at the G8 summit this month after Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, sealed an agreement with the Czech Republic. The Foreign Ministry said that Russia would react “with military-technical methods”.

Yesterday Izvestia cited Defense Ministry sources as saying that crews from its TU160 Blackjack and TU95MS Bear long-range bombers had already visited Cuba to inspect a potential landing strip for use as a refueling centre.

It claimed that facilities were also being considered in Venezuela, whose President, Hugo Chávez, agreed to step up military co-operation with Russia in talks with Mr Medvedev and Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister, in Moscow on Tuesday.

The bases would host refueling aircraft and maintenance for the nuclear bombers, which resumed round-the-clock patrols last August for the first time since the Cold War. General Pyotr Deinikin, former commander of the air force, said that they would allow Russia to maintain an almost permanent presence off the US coast.

The plan has not received official confirmation in Moscow and it was unclear whether Russia would base nuclear bombers permanently in Cuba or use the communist island and former Soviet ally solely as a refueling centre. Last night Ilshat Baichurin, the Defence Ministry spokesman, dismissed the reports as “disinformation”, according to the Interfax and RIA-Novosti news agencies.

The prospect has drawn a sharp response in the US. General Norton Schwartz, nominated as the new air force chief of staff, told a confirmation hearing in Washington DC on Tuesday that placing Russian bombers in Cuba “crosses a red line for the United States of America”. He said: “I would certainly offer the best military advice that we engage the Russians not to pursue that approach.”

Fidel Castro, the former leader of Cuba, entered the fray yesterday, praising his brother Raúl for refusing to comment on the possibility of hosting Russian bases. He said that Havana did not need to offer the US “any explanations or excuses”, he wrote in a letter to the cubadebate.cu website.

Russia’s nuclear bomber force has come into repeated contact with Nato jets since Mr Putin ordered the resumption of long-range patrols. Russia also organized its biggest naval exercises since the collapse of the Soviet Union in January. The RAF and other Nato jets shadowed the Russian task force as it test-launched nuclear missiles and practiced strike tactics off the coast of France and Spain.

Mr Putin has threatened to place nuclear missiles in Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave surrounded by EU states, if objections to the missile shield and the expansion of Nato into Ukraine and Georgia are ignored.

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3 Comments:

While not specificaly naming this Soviet Union or Cuban or American action in Scripture,and we do need to keep an eye on these events, I just keep wondering if this isn\’t part of The End Times. It\’s going to happen anyway.

Another informed and timely post my friend. There is evil in every nation, every country, and sadly, so very much of it resides in our nation, but this was also foretold in the Holy Scriptures. Nuclear weapons are not out biggest threat in my singular opinion. It would take an insane person to launch a nuclear attack in this day and age. To do so would be sure destruction of the nation that first fired. Yes, our earth has persons so evil that they, in theory, could wipe out nearly every living soul on the earth our Holy Father so majestically created. Israel is under constant threat from Iran, but I don\’t see this as anything but a bluff. Having known, fought beside, and talked with many Israeli soldiers, I can tell you straight out that they are fearless and will not be intimidated by idle threats. This small remnant of the original twelve tribes are, in fact, blessed to this day with the courage God would have His children display. They desire peace with fervent determination. They have given and given until there is nothing left to give. They simply are defending what little they have left of the Promised Land. China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and others, will huff and puff but will never blow down the spirit of the nation of Israel. We know that there will be 144,000 of the remnant left to endure the great tribulation, and serve as witness for the God of Israel and all peoples of the world. Elijah and Moses will play a major role in this event. You and I, we know these things and can do nothing to change what is coming some day when least expected. For this man, the immediate enemy lives within our very own borders, and they wear blue suits and arrogance like a badge of honor.
It is my earnest hope that those of us calling Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior will continue to exhibit our faith and lift our voices in prayer for those that remain lost. The crisis is beyond our "healing" desires. God is still in complete charge and He will fulfill His perfect plan. We must occupy ourselves with the areas over which we can be of use to God. The mammoth troubles of the world are His stead. You do what you must, and what you are called to do, but as for me, I\’ll remain a sinner saved by grace, and continue to lend a hand to those I can reach. The only fear any of us should have is the fear of eternal separation from God. In light of our salvation, we have nothing else to fear but fear itself. This is the true test of FAITH….patience, joy, hope, and the desire to serve with humble obedience to the teachings of Jesus. Woe to the one that calls another "Ye fool." Be of good cheer my friend. We are but temporary residents of this world we now know. Take comfort the His promise.

Proverbs 9:10-11
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. NIV
There’s a phrase there in those words that has always attracted me with a peculiar kind of attraction. It’s the phrase, “the knowledge of the Holy One.” Somehow, that pictures to me a place in fellowship and relationship with God where we come to know God as He really is. And when we come to know God in that way, we find, indeed, He is the Holy One.
Holiness is an attribute of God that is not really shared in the same degree by any of His creatures. I believe that the ultimate end of life is to know God, the Holy One. I believe, in knowing God, there comes wisdom and there come also the temporal blessings of life, but it has to be in the right order. We don’t pursue the blessings, the temporal, but we pursue the knowledge of the Holy One.
And then he says to us: “Through me your days will be many and years will be added to your life.” Make that your aim-make it your aim to know God. Jesus said, “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” Out of that knowledge flows life, life in abundance, life for time and life for eternity.

"Because of the tender mercy of our God the Sunrise from on high shall visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:78-79).